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City-States of Mesopotamia

City-States of Mesopotamia. World History: Libertyville HS. Geography. “Fertile Crescent”: area between Persian Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean shore & length of Nile R. Tigris & Euphrates Rivers Flow SE into Persian Gulf Mesopotamia = “Land between two rivers”

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City-States of Mesopotamia

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  1. City-States of Mesopotamia World History: Libertyville HS

  2. Geography • “Fertile Crescent”: area between Persian Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean shore & length of Nile R. • Tigris & Euphrates Rivers • Flow SE into Persian Gulf • Mesopotamia = “Land between two rivers” • Annual flooding of rivers leaves silt (++ farming)

  3. Human Arrival into Mesopotamia • People moved into area after 10,000 BC (pop. pressure) • Why settle in Mesopotamia? • River valley had fertile land (silt) • Access to Persian Gulf for fishing, trade • Rivers allowed for easy irrigation • Challenges to settlers • Annual flooding was unpredictable • Small area with no natural protection • Limited natural resources (little stone, wood or metal) Modern Flooding of Tigris R.

  4. Human Arrival into Area • Solutions to Challenges • Irrigation projects to control flood waters (levees; channels) • Built walls around cities for protection • Traded for scarce goods with neighboring regions Sumerians plowing City walls of Jericho

  5. City States of Mesopotamia • City state = different walled cities of area, each with their own leader • Culturally similar • Politically independent • Economically dependent (trade) • Militarily competitive, mainly through raiding each other; not conquest City plan of Ur

  6. City States of Mesopotamia • Political Power • Irrigation projects needed leaders to organize (beginning of government) • Priest-kings served as go between for Gods and man • Religion the basis of political power • City state’s gods owned all land • Priest-king served as agent of gods • Priest-kings ruled society

  7. City States of Mesopotamia • After 3000 BC, war became more common and warriors became permanent leaders • Fought other city-states • Border disputes • Raiding cattle • Show of strength of their city-gods • Dynasties established • Series of priest-kings passing power on to their own sons • Took place from 3000-2500 BC Sumerian war chariot, c. 2500 BC Sumerian soldier with armored cloak

  8. Cultural Diffusion • Idea or product spreading from one culture to another • Spread mainly by trade • Ideas spread included… • Layout of cities • Religious beliefs • Government organization • Technologies

  9. Case Study: Sumerian Culture Sumerian Gods • Religion • Polytheistic • About 3000 gods in all • Gods were immortal and all powerful • Many had human traits • Built ziggurats to please the gods • Temples were home of gods • Tower of Babel from bible a ziggurat Ziggurat

  10. Sumerian Technology • Invented the wheel for both trade and war, around 3500 BC • Sail helped trade • Plow improved farming • Metallurgy • Pre 3000 BC = copper • Post 3000 BC = bronze • Sun dried mud bricks allowed for construction of buildings (why use mud?)

  11. Sumerian Technology: Cuneiform and Counting • First system of writing • Used wedge shaped reed pressed into wet clay tablet • Tablet then fired in oven to create permanent record • What records kept? • Tracked tax records, payments, debts, etc • Number system was base 60 • Still used today (time, circle) • Why is base 60 a good system?

  12. Sumerian Society Sumerian Hierarchy • Women had many rights, but little education

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